The Great Debate

Posted Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 6:30 AMI hope you tuned in to watch Tuesday night’s debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham. The central question of the debate was, “Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern scientific era?” However, it quickly turned to a question of, “Do you accept or reject the idea of God?” While certainly no one expected Mr. Ham or Mr. Nye to impact each other’s beliefs, it was most definitely interesting to watch. Perhaps most intriguing to me was the fact that both men had questions they didn’t answer. However, the questions Mr. Nye failed to answer were of significantly greater importance than Mr. Ham’s. For example, how ice layers accumulated over just 4,000 years is infinitely less important to me than how intelligent life came from matter (if God didn’t breath life into man—Gen. 2:7). Mr. Nye’s answer, “I don’t know… it’s a mystery.” was all anyone should need to acknowledge that at the very least, creation is indeed a “viable model” worthy of consideration. “We don’t know how ice layers built up.” and “We don’t know how life came to be.” are not equal uncertainties. I also couldn’t help but think about the contrast of the bigger picture of the two viewpoints. Mr. Nye’s claim that he finds great joy in science is illogical to me if he really believes there is no God, no afterlife, no purpose, and no future. The wisest man who ever lived said that life is empty, pointless and futile apart from God (read Ecclesiastes) and I couldn’t help seeing the emptiness and futility in Mr. Nye’s worldview. I am profoundly grateful to know there is a God and my proof lies in the fact that I know Him personally. Unfortunately, that is the only thing that will ever change Mr. Nye’s mind and I pray he opens his heart to the God who died on a cross to save his soul. I guess in the end, I’m even more thankful to be able to join the Apostle Paul in saying, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)